OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Rami Zur (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Carlos Garcia (Oklahoma City, Okla.) had never paddled in the same boat before this weekend. Two races later, the Israeli-born Zur and Cuban-born Garcia earned two first place finishes in Men’s K2 200m and 1000m Final on Saturday. Individually, Garcia and Zur would finish first and second, respectively, in Men’s K1 1000m.

For Garcia, 23, the 2012 National Team Trials mark the last one before he’s fully eligible to compete for the U.S. The Trials represent a final competitive paddle for the three-time Olympian Zur, 35, who has represented both Israel (2000) and the U.S. (2004, 2008) on the Olympic stage.

“The first time I met [Garcia] was here [this weekend],” Zur said. “He Facebooked me, asked me if I wanted to paddle K2. I said, ‘sure, why not.’ I’m flying all the way from California, I train five months, regardless of the Olympics or not. I’m a competitor, I like to race, I enjoy it, and if I have an opportunity to jump in a boat, sure, why not.”

Maggie Hogan (San Diego, Calif.) and Kaitlyn McElroy (Oklahoma City, Okla.) have trained together in the K2 before, but not since the 2011 Pan American Games in October. After winning the Pan American bronze medal, the duo proved they’ve still got it, winning the Women’s K2 500m final on Saturday. Individually, McElroy and Hogan finished within one-hundredths of a second of each other, placing second and third, respectively, in Women’s K1 200m, behind Carrie Johnson (San Diego, Calif.). Johnson, Hogan and McElroy all qualified for participation in the World Cup No. 1 in Duisburg, Germany, May 19-20.

“We haven’t stepped in the boat [together], since PanAms,” Johnson said. “I think all our work this fall, we don’t have to play too much catch-up. We click really well in the boat together, so I was happy with that.”

In Paracanoe, Anja Pierce, Josh Wold, Greg Crouse, and Jeremy Wagoner won their respective races to earn the right to represent Team USA at the 2012 Paracanoe World Championships in Poznan, Poland, May 16-17.

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Friday Recap:

Qualifer for 2012 U.S. Olympic Canoe/Kayak Team

Women’s 500m Single Kayak

1. Carrie Johnson 1:57.76 *nominated to 2012 U.S. Olympic Team

2. Maggie Hogan 1:58.71

3. Kaitlyn McElroy 2:01.52

4. Nicole Mallory 2:04.95

5. Arasay Aguila 2:06.03

6. Jen Burke 2:07.35

7. Mia Overton 2:13.86

8. Katy Hill 2:16.80

9. Hanieh Khatabi 2:19.51

Men’s 200m Single Kayak

1. Tim Hornsby 37.97 *not named Olympian, will continue to compete for spot

2. Ryan Dolan 38.05 *not named Olympian, will continue to compete for spot

3. Rami Zur 38.96

4. Morgan House 39.34

5. Luke Michael 39.38

6. Jake Michael 39.67

7. Cedric Bond 40.93

8. Austin Schwinn 41.93

9. David Petrovic 42.72

Qualifier for 2012 U.S. World Cup Team

Men’s 200m Single Canoe

1. Rob Finlayson 44.69 *nominated to team

2. Ben Hefner 47.62 *nominated to team

3. Ian Ross 47.93

Qualifier for 2012 U.S. Paracanoe World Championship Team

Women’s Paracanoe Legs, Trunk and Arms 200m Single Kayak

1. Kelly Allen 1:10.87

Men’s Paracanoe Arms Only 200m Single Kayak

1. Ryan Padilla 1:04.55

Men’s Paracanoe Trunk and Arms 200m Single Kayak

1. Danzig Norberg 1:10.05

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Carrie Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) became the first U.S. Canoe/Kayak athlete to be named a qualifier for the London 2012 Olympic Games with a first place finish in the Women’s 500m Kayak final Friday at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Flatwater Sprint.

Johnson, who will race in her third consecutive Olympics just under 100 days from now, finished in 1:57.76, 0.95 seconds ahead of second place finisher Maggie Hogan (San Diego, Calif.), who turned in a time of 1:58.71.

In the other Olympic qualifying race, Ryan Dolan (Kailua, Hawaii) missed the chance to book his 2012 ticket by eight-hundredths of a second. Dolan finished the men’s 200m kayak final in 38.05, just behind Tim Hornsby (Atlanta, Ga.), who placed first with a time of 37.97.

Both athletes will continue to compete at World Cup No. 1 for the lone U.S. men’s Olympic kayak spot. The best finish among the two of them will determine the 2012 Olympic nominee. Duisburg, Germany hosts Sprint World Cup No. 1 on May 19-20.

In the men’s 200m canoe final, Rob Finlayson (Gainesville, Ga.) finished first in 44.69, followed by Ben Hefner (Gainesville, Ga.) in 47.62. Both athletes earned nomination to the 2012 U.S. Sprint World Cup Team.

Three paracanoe athletes earned nomination to the 2012 U.S. Paracanoe World Championship Team on Friday. Kelly Allen, Ryan Padilla, and Danzig Norberg won their respective races and will get the chance to represent the U.S. at the 2012 Paracanoe World Championships in Poznan, Poland, May 16-17.

Racing continues Saturday beginning 8 a.m. CST with races to determine which athletes will be named to the 2012 U.S. Senior, U23, and Paracanoe national teams. Afterwards, athletes will be signing autographs afterward, followed by the Paddle Now! Youth Experience. From 12-2 p.m., kids from grades 2 through 9 can experience the sport of canoe/kayak by getting into a boat to paddle with elite athletes. Paddle Now! is a free event.

QUOTES

Carrie Johnson, Women’s Kayak, on Friday’s final:

“It was a good race. It’s a pretty good sidewind out there, which is a little bit of a challenging condition for us. But [I] went out hard and was able to hold out in the end.”

Johnson on the experience gained from two Olympics:

“You learn from every race that you do. I think lining up at the Games is a little bit more pressure. You really know that you’re with the top people in the world. And I think having done that two times now, I can go in, hopefully, a little bit more relaxed, a little bit more comfortable with the situation and be able to put out a better race than I did four years ago.”

Johnson on what a potential Olympic medal would mean to her:

“It would be the culmination of about 15 years of training. I can’t even describe what I think it would feel like.”

Shaun Caven, USA Canoe/Kayak National Team Coach on the women’s kayak final:

“Carrie did the job. It’s what she expects of herself, to be able to paddle at that ability. She just demonstrated that she’s the best female kayaker in the U.S. right now. I thought the other girls did a really good job trying to hold on for as long as possible, but that’s the difference between a [prospective] three-time Olympian and everybody else. [It was a] really good quality race, [Johnson] just controlled it all the way down the course in really difficult wind conditions.”

“I’m very excited. It’ll be good. [Dolan and I] We’ll get to go to World Cups and race together at World Cups. And one of us will be in London, so that’s pretty exciting for both of us. I think we’ll both be able to put some things together, race a little bit faster, and hopefully be a little bit of a threat in Europe. That’s the plan.”

Ryan Dolan, Men’s Kayak, on his second place finish:

“I was happy, a little disappointed in myself because I felt like I was leading and I, for whatever reason, slowed down. Hats off to Tim, he had a great race. Me and him have been going at it the last two years over 200 [meters], so he got me today. It’s unfortunate because I can’t yet go to the Olympics but there’s still the next World Cup in May for the race-off.”

Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO, on Friday’s paracanoe racing:

“I was thinking, ‘oh my gosh, four years from now, this is going to be a Paralympic sport and this is really going to be at a whole other level.’ We’re integrating that together with the sprint program with the resources that are available in places like Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, setting a super high standard. I think the paracanoe athletes today are watching what the men’s kayak did today, watching what Carrie [Johnson] and the women’s kayak did today, and saying, ‘that’s us in four years.’ This would be the last quadrennial trials that wasn’t a Paralympic trials. Four years from now, this is the Paralympic trials. It’s going to be very exciting.”

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Wednesday, April 18, marks 100 days until the Opening Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games, July 27-August 12. And this Friday, USA Canoe/Kayak could be naming the first members of its 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

The road to London runs through Oklahoma City, host of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Flatwater Sprint on April 20. Racing begins 2 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Boathouse District on the Oklahoma River.

The U.S. will send two sprint kayakers to London. For Carrie Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) and Ryan Dolan (Kailua, Hawaii), it’s “win and you’re in”. Should anyone else finish first on Friday, the competition continues to World Cup No. 1 in Duisburg, Germany, May 19-20.

Two-time Olympian Carrie Johnson qualified the Olympic slot for Team USA by winning two Gold medals at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. She will compete in the Women’s Single Kayak 500m race against a number of competitors, including Oklahoma City-based athletes Maggie Hogan (San Diego, Calif.), Kaitlyn McElroy (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Jen Burke (Oklahoma City, Okla.).

Carrie Johnson, Sprint Kayak: “I am really excited to race for a spot on my third Olympic Team. I know that everyone has been training very hard and there is going to be some great racing.”

Ryan Dolan, 22, qualified the Olympic slot for Team USA by earning the Bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Games. He will compete in the Men’s Single Kayak 200m race against fellow 2011 National Team members Morgan House (Gainesville, Ga.), Tim Hornsby (Atlanta, Ga.), Luke and Jake Michael (Kailua, Hawaii), and Ryan’s older brother Patrick Dolan (Kailua, Hawaii), among others.

Ryan Dolan, Sprint Kayak: “[I’m] looking forward to Trials and racing everyone. 200-meter races are all close, so it’s going to be some great racing with the Olympic spot on the line. OKC organized a great event in 2008, so I am sure they will do a good job with this Olympic trials.”

Men’s and Women’s Paracanoe Single Kayak 200m races will also take place on Friday. Heats for all events begin 2 p.m. with Finals from 5 to 7 p.m. An awards ceremony will take place shortly after.

The Oklahoma River also hosted the Sprint Olympic Trials in 2008. USA Canoe/Kayak announced the relocation of its headquarters to Oklahoma City in December 2011

William Irving, USA Canoe/Kayak National Teams Director: “Being back in Oklahoma City again for the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials, is an exciting time for our U.S. competitors as two athletes will be looking to solidify their spots on the 2012 Olympic Team, while the other athletes will race to keep their own dreams of making the Olympic Team alive. It will for sure be some exciting racing as athletes have been training hard in what was a short offseason to win in Oklahoma City.”

Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO: "The opportunity for two outstanding athletes to secure their positions on the Olympic Team on the Oklahoma River brings tremendous excitement to fans, media, sponsors and partners. This is exactly the kind of environment you want your Olympians to embrace on this critical step to London."

Mike Knopp, OKC Boathouse Foundation Executive Director: "As home to the OKC National High Performance Center for both rowing and canoe/kayak, it will be exciting for us to watch the athletes who live and train in OKC race here to qualify for Team USA. Over the past two years, these athletes have really become a part of Oklahoma City, so we want to give everyone the chance to come down to the river and cheer them on as they race for a shot at their Olympic dreams."

STORYLINES

Competing with Crohn’s: Two-time Olympian Carrie Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2003, while rehabilitating a shoulder injury. The illness left her unable to train in the 2003 and 2009 seasons. Johnson's favorite quote "falling in life is unavoidable- staying down is optional" suggests she has not let the disease keep her from her beloved sport.

The Waterman Spirit: Ryan Kawika Dolan (Kailua, Hawaii) embodies the spirit of the Hawaiian "Waterman." He excels at all paddle sports, which are important activities for many residents of the island state. The 22-year-old grew up surfing, fishing and swimming with his older brother, Patrick, also an elite sprint kayaker.

NEWS & NOTES

Racing continues Saturday morning with 2012 Senior, U23 and Paracanoe National Team Trials. Canoe and kayak athletes named to the 2012 Senior National Team will represent the U.S. at the 2012 ICF World Cup races in May and June in Europe.

Heats begin 9 a.m. Saturday with the Finals at 11 a.m. Athletes will be signing autographs afterward, followed by the Paddle Now! Youth Experience. Kids from grades 2 through 9 can experience the sport of canoe/kayak by getting into a boat to paddle with elite athletes on Saturday from 12-2 p.m. Paddle Now! is a free event. Click HERE for more info on the program.

The Paracanoe National Team Trials mark the beginning a four-year journey toward the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where paracanoe will makes its debut. Winners of the trials will have the chance to compete at the 2012 Paracanoe World Championships in Poznan, Polan, May 16-17.

This weekend, the first of three state-of-the-art starting systems will be unveiled. These starting gates will be identical to the ones used at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The pneumatic gates hold the boats in place and then drop with the starter's gun, ensuring a fair start and a higher standard of racing.

The U.S. Olympic Trials for Whitewater Slalom were held last weekend, but no athletes were nominated to the Olympic Team. Slalom kayaker Caroline Queen was in New York City Wednesday morning at the official U.S. Olympic Committee’s 100 Days Out celebration.

About USA Canoe/Kayak

USA Canoe/Kayak is a non-profit membership organization based in Oklahoma City, OK, promoting canoe and kayak racing in the United States. A member of the United States Olympic Committee, USA Canoe/Kayak is the national governing body for the Olympic sports of Flatwater Sprint and Whitewater Slalom and the official U.S. federation of the International Canoe Federation. Other paddling sports sanctioned by USACanoe/Kayak include Marathon, Freestyle, Wildwater, Stand Up Paddleboard, Canoe Polo, Canoe Sailing, Outrigger, and Dragon Boat. For more information about USA Canoe/Kayak, please visit us on the web at www.usack.org, on Twitter at @usacanoekayak and Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/USACanoeKayak.

About Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation

The OKC Boathouse Foundation promotes the use and development of the Oklahoma River as a world-class urban aquatic venue and provides access to rowing, kayaking and fitness programs for people of all ages and abilities. OKCBF programs pursue the highest goals of sports and embrace the principles of the Olympic spirit which inspire athletes to work toward personal excellence, embrace the power of teamwork, and practice respect for all people and the environment. To learn more or get involved, call (405) 552-4040 or visit okcbf.org, facebook.com/OklahomaCityRiversport or twitter.com/riversportokc.